Israel’s military vows that the attack “will have consequences.”
Tehran Attacks Israel
Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel late Tuesday, vowing to attack again “harder” if Israel responds. Air raid sirens sounded across the country, including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as Israeli officials ordered residents to immediately shelter in place. These orders were lifted within the hour. At least one person was killed in the West Bank city of Jericho, and two others were lightly wounded in Tel Aviv.
Iranian state media said some of the missiles targeted Israeli tanks located at the Netzarim Corridor, a zone splitting northern Gaza from the south, as part of Israel’s offensive in the enclave. It is unclear whether this effort was successful. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel’s air defense systems intercepted most of Iran’s missiles; however, several landed in central and southern Israel. This attack “will have consequences,” Hagari said. “We have plans, and we will act in the time and place we decide.” He did not specify when that might be or what retaliation might look like.
Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Tuesday’s attack was in response to Israeli forces killing Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran in July, as well as the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut last month. Israel is widely believed to be behind all three assassinations but has only claimed responsibility for Nasrallah’s death. Iran backs both Hamas and Hezbollah.
This was a “legal, rational, and legitimate response” to Israel targeting Iranian nationals and infringing upon Tehran’s national sovereignty, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations posted on X on Tuesday. Should Israel “dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue.”
U.S. President Joe Biden directed the U.S. military “to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel.” This week, the U.S. Defense Department announced that it would boost the number of fighter jets in the region and direct the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to remain in the Middle East. The U.S. military’s F-16 and F-15E fighter jets helped Israel intercept Iran’s missile and drone attack in April.
In a call on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant “discussed the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel,” according to a Pentagon readout. And U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that “support for Israel’s security is ironclad,” adding that Washington will coordinate with Israel on any future response.
Following Iran’s attack, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated pleas for a cease-fire in Lebanon, warning that escalation into an all-out war must be avoided “at all costs.” Chinese, Japanese, and European officials also urged all parties involved to show restraint. The U.N. Security Council will convene on Wednesday to address Iran’s operation.
Tuesday’s attack occurred after the Israeli military began carrying out what it called “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” in southern Lebanon. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and as many as 1 million others have been displaced since cross-border strikes escalated last month, according to Lebanese officials.
Shortly after Iran’s attack on Tuesday and while residents were still under shelter-in-place orders, two suspects shot to death at least eight people at the Ehrlich light rail station in the Israeli city of Jaffa. Local police said the shooters have been “neutralized,” with some calling it a terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it killed Muhammad Jaafar Qasir, a senior Hezbollah commander who oversaw the transfer of Iranian munitions to the militant group, in Beirut on Tuesday. Hezbollah continues to fire missiles at Israeli targets, including Glilot Base, where the headquarters of Israel’s external intelligence agency, Mossad, are located.
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